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Discover Nature’s treasures as you explore the serene majesty of Del Monte Forest. Here you’ll quickly experience the magic of a legendary scenic tour that’s home to The Lone Cypress, Seal and Bird Rocks, Fanshell Beach, Point Joe, and the colliding currents of The Restless Sea. You’ll see black cormorants, brown pelicans, California sea otters, harbor seals, and idle sea lions all in their natural habitat. Colorful native wildflowers dot the scene, adorning the cool, soothing hues of the seashore and carefully preserved dunescape.

Along the way, you’ll encounter the emerald fairways of such famous golf courses as The Links at Spanish Bay, Spyglass Hill and the world-renowned Pebble Beach Golf Links. For a gourmet picnic lunch along 17-Mile Drive, visit Pebble Beach Market adjacent to The Lodge at Pebble Beach. Pebble Beach Company was founded by Samuel Finley Brown Morse, who was a distant cousin of telegraph-inventor Samuel Finley Breese Morse. In the early 1900s, Morse was a manager for the Pacific Improvement Company; the company had extensive real estate holdings on the Monterey Peninsula.

In 1919, Morse formed the Del Monte Properties Company and acquired those holdings, which included Del Monte Forest and the popular Hotel Del Monte (now the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey). February 22, 1919, saw the grand opening of Pebble Beach Golf Links and The Lodge at Pebble Beach , which had replaced a log-cabin lodge originally located on 17-Mile Drive.

Morse died on May 10, 1969, ten years after ensuring that easements would preserve hundreds of acres of forest and coastline along the 17-Mile Drive for generations to come, and 50 years after establishing a veritable monument to the power of nature and beauty.

Pebble Beach Company includes three Resorts, four golf courses and more than 1,600 employees. For resort reservations, please call (800) 654-9300.

To contact a resort guest, or for general information, please call (831) 647-7500.

A Taste of Monterey's large Visitors' Centers on Cannery Row overlooking the Monterey Bay and in historic Old Town Salinas are perfect locations to enjoy a variety of local wines. Representing over 70 regional wineries, each of our locations are great places to taste, shop and relax. From Chardonnay to Zinfandel, we carry a large range of locally produced wines, wine accessories and gifts. After hours, our tasting rooms transform into the perfect venues for private events, team building activities, small parties and our wine club festivities. The Oldtown Salinas center is located just steps away from the National Steinbeck Center, inside a 110 year old historic building. Guests may enjoy Monterey Wine Country tasting while viewing entertaining and educational exhibits. Expert wine consultants will gladly answer a wide array of questions regarding Monterey County's wineries, wine production and history. Our unique gift shops feature an extensive selection of local gourmet food and décor items and wine accessories. The facilities are available for special events. Features Daily wine tasting ($5 for a selection of 6 wines) Large selection of wine, gifts, gourmet foods and wine accessories Private tastings and events 1500 sq. ft. private wine cellar event space and catering Other Information Monterey Theme Gift Center Winery Maps & Tour Information Available for private parties and special events

A Taste of Monterey's large Visitors' Centers on Cannery Row overlooking the Monterey Bay and in historic Old Town Salinas are perfect locations to enjoy a variety of local wines. Representing over 70 regional wineries, each of our locations are great places to taste, shop and relax. From Chardonnay to Zinfandel, we carry a large range of locally produced wines, wine accessories and gifts. After hours, our tasting rooms transform into the perfect venues for private events, team building activities, small parties and our wine club festivities. Our unique gift shops feature an extensive selection of local gourmet food and décor items and wine accessories. The facilities are available for special events. Features Daily wine tasting ($5 for a selection of 6 wines) - Large selection of wine, gifts, gourmet foods and wine accessories Private tastings and events 1500 sq. ft. private wine cellar event space and catering Other Information Monterey Theme Gift Center Winery Maps & Tour Information Available for private parties and special events

Ag Venture Tours specializes in wine tasting, sightseeing and agricultural education tours of the Monterey Bay region of California. Wine tasting tours visit either the Monterey Wine Country (Salinas, Carmel Valley) or the Santa Cruz Mountains. Agricultural education tours feature the Salinas Valley. Sightseeing tours include the Monterey Peninsula (Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Carmel) or Big Sur. All our tours are designed to be fun and educational and can be customized to your interests, offering both half and full day excursions. Our guides are friendly and knowledgeable with extensive backgrounds in the agriculture and the wine industry. Tours We offer a wide variety of guided tours and/or step on guide service. Any size group can be accommodated, please call for more information. Each tour includes pickup and return at your residence or hotel, (individual rates include transportation in a comfortable 14 passenger van, group rates include van or bus transportation), expert guide service and commentary, wine tasting fees, winery tour and vineyard walk. A cooler of cold drinks is available and a winery map for each guest is included with each tour. Ag Venture Tours & Consulting is a full service tour operator with ten year's experience that can organize any tour that you may be interested in. We are flexible with the tour schedule and will customize the tour to meet your interests. All tours are designed to be fun and educational. Foreign language interpreters can be arranged on request. Individual Tours
Half day (1:00 pm - 4:00 pm) tours cost $60-65/person (minimum of 2 guests, lunch not included) Additional $30 fuel fee for groups of 3 or less.
Full day (10:00 am - 4:00 pm) tours cost $85-100/person (minimum of 4 guests, optional picnic or restaurant lunch). Group Tours
Half day (1:00 pm - 4:00 pm) tours cost $50-80/person (lunch not included).
Full day (10:00 am - 4:00 pm) tours cost $75-120/person (optional picnic or restaurant lunch).

About Our Tours Treat yourself (or your loved ones) to a totally new perspective!

Zeppelin flight has come to the Bay Area. The height of luxury travel at the turn of the century, airships were overtaken by the advantages of the next newest invention – the propeller driven airplane. Today and 80 years later, new technology meets old world luxury with the arrival of the Bay Area’s newest icon – the Airship Ventures Zeppelin NT.

You will enjoy leisurely paced and remarkably scenic flight. Cruising at an altitude of 1,200 feet at 35 to 40 mph, you will literally have the world at your feet. Large expansive window panels surround the cabin to allow 360° views as you walk around to take in your favorite Bay Area view. Enjoy vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower, sailboats on the Bay, the Oakland Bay Bridge, Treasure Island or the headlands like you have never seen them before. Gain a perspective on the frantic nature of human daily life, taking place below you in a space squeezed by the oceans and the mountains.

We fly from three different locations; historic Moffett Field in Mountain View, Oakland Airport’s North Field and day trips and tours out of Monterey Peninsula Airport. Each location offers distinctly different sights and flight experiences. Please check with our Guest Service representatives as to which location and times works best for your travel plans. There are no difficult decisions to make, just wonderful choices!

We’re looking forward to seeing your pictures of sights from the airship. For snapshots of vistas we have seen flying on the Zeppelin in other parts of the world check out the many posts for July 2008 on our blog.   Flight Pricing
From Moffett Field & Oakland One Hour Flights1 Standard $495 Sightseeing Special (for 2)  $745 Group Rate Standard (12) $5,750 Group Rate Special (12) $4,950 Group Rate Special (6) $2,475 Two Hour Flights1 Standard $950 Sightseeing Special (for 2) $1,425 Group Rate Standard (12) $11,500 Group Rate Special (12) $9,900 Group Rate Special (6) $4950   Custom routes and destinations can be planned for specific purposes within the Bay Area. Out of area flights are possible depending on distance, weather and route requirements. Please be sure to inquire with our Sales & Marketing staff for your "Special Mission" planning! 1 All fares subject to local taxes and airport fees.   Background The initial concept for Airship Ventures was the vision of an entrepreneurial husband/wife team, who brought their love of aviation, aerospace and airships to life to create a unique, upstart company designed to bring Zeppelin airships to the skies over America for the first time in over 70 years.

Brian and Alexandra (Alex) Hall both began life with a fascination for aviation. Brian spent summers at a family retreat in upstate New York, near an aerospace museum – Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome – featuring vintage World War I aircraft. Watching dogfights there got him hooked on aviation of that era. A child of the moon-landing generation, he was also intrigued with space – building an extensive collection of model rockets.

Alex grew up dreaming of becoming an astronaut and going into space. When investigating careers, she thought about becoming a pilot so she could then become an astronaut, but discovered that, at the time, she was too short to fly commercial planes. She also had an early connection with airships – growing up near the Cardington Airship Hangars in Bedford, England. Seeing the huge airship sheds, she became fascinated with the oversized aircraft, and interested in airship history, particularly the trans-global flights of the Graf Zeppelin.

When they first met, Brian and Alex discovered they had shared interests and aspirations. Early Days In 2005, 14 years after starting Mark/Space, a successful company offering software to move data between mobile phones and computers, Brian was ready to start another business endeavor. While attending a software conference in Cologne, Germany in July, 2006, fate was about to step in. One of the only three Zeppelins in the world was in Cologne, offering a rare chance for Brian to fulfill one of his dreams – to ride in a Zeppelin.

One ride aboard the Zeppelin NT was all it took – Brian was hooked. Designed exclusively for passenger operations, the Zeppelin NT (“New Technology”) is unlike any other airship in the world. Engineered with the best in German technology, the airship's precise handling, and quiet, spacious cabin with oversized windows and restroom were designed for luxurious passenger operations. Realizing that there was no experience like this, and no airship technology like this in the U.S., Brian immediately embarked on his next business venture.

The Zeppelin's manufacturer, Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik (ZLT) and their operating company DZR, had been offering Zeppelin passenger rides successfully in Germany since 2001, with sold-out flights for all eight months of favorable flight weather available each year. Brian sent an email to the company, with an initial business plan to bring a Zeppelin NT to the Bay Area. Two months later, in September, 2006, he returned to convince ZLT that the American marketplace, San Francisco resident and tourist base, and more favorable flying weather in the Bay Area would make for a successful Zeppelin flight operation. They agreed. A deposit was made for the next Zeppelin NT pending production, the fourth Zeppelin NT to be constructed. Up Ship! On May 21, 2008, Airship Venture's Zeppelin NT emerged from Zeppelin's hangar for its maiden flight – launched with pride by the ZLT and Airship Ventures teams, and residents of its hometown of Friedrichshafen, Germany.

The Zeppelin has completed an ocean transit onboard the deck of a container ship from Europe to the U.S. A cross-country transit flight to its new home base at Moffett Field is underway. From there, the Airship Ventures Zeppelin will dazzle guests with luxurious "flight-seeing tours," from select Bay Area airports. Itineraries will include stunning tours of the South Bay/Silicon Valley, San Francisco skyline, Sonoma/Napa Valley wine country, and Monterey/Big Sur.

Airship Ventures' future business plans include the addition of a second Zeppelin airship, to be based on the U.S. east coast, followed by a third Zeppelin devoted to air shows, special events and scientific research missions. The company will also expand its facilities at Moffett Field, moving into the restored former bachelor's officers quarters building – offering facilities for catered corporate and special events.

The vision held by the company's founders is to create an organization that delivers a truly "wow" experience, with a high quality, service-oriented staff that reflects the top quality of its products. They also are excited about the broad range of possibilities for airship technology and working with NASA and others to realize those.

Family Fun If you’re traveling with kids, Cannery Row’s family-friendly entertainment and attractions appeal to adults and children alike. Park the car; you won’t need it while you’re here, because everything is within walking distance of your hotel. A visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, kayaking and tide pooling bring the marine environment to life. Ceramics painting and bead jewelry design provide enjoyment for the older children, while youngsters delight in the interactive exhibits at the Monterey County Youth Museum. Meals are hassle-free, with a variety of full service restaurants offering children’s menus, and delicious snack options for the whole family. Adventure So you like to explore, discover the unknown? Come to Cannery Row and challenge yourself. You won’t be roughing it, because you’ll wake up in a great hotel and start the day with a hearty breakfast prepared for you. But then the contest begins. Climb into a kayak and paddle your way out into the “wilds” of Monterey Bay, where you’ll experience marine life in abundance. Back on shore, examine the wealth of the tide pools along the rocky shoreline; be sure to come back tomorrow because the tide changes the scenery daily. Be one of the select few to enjoy this premiere cold water diving destination, and discover the secrets under the surface. The joy of this adventure is that it’s easily accessible and can be enjoyed in two or three days, each of which ends with clean sheets, a fabulous meal and the memory of exploration. Romance There is no more romantic getaway than Cannery Row on Monterey Bay. Choose from accommodations that include a full-service resort to luxury inns, all with stunning ocean views and the soothing sounds of the surf. Relax with a walk on the beach, or put the world behind you and take a kayak out on the bay. Step out of time and explore the coast in a vintage roadster, then rediscover each other with a couples massage at the penthouse spa. Taste some of Monterey County’s fine wines before you stroll to an intimate dinner that reminds you why food enjoyed by candlelight is so romantic. A memento of your trip won’t be hard to find in the unique specialty shops that dot Cannery Row. Then again, there’s always the memory. The Good Life The Good Life, that perfect combination of environment, treasures and experiences, is the definition of Cannery Row. Your day begins with breakfast in a featherbed at a luxury inn overlooking the water. Spend the day indulging your senses with the perfume of handmade soaps and candles, the vision of fine paintings and photography and the taste of fine wines from around Monterey County. Dinner is a feast of local produce and the freshest seafood, with the sound of waves splashing on the shore. The next morning you play Jay Gatsby with a ride along the coast in a vintage roadster, returning for a leisurely lunch while watching the otters play. In the afternoon you escape to the penthouse spa for a massage and body wrap, and linger in the whirlpool tub drinking in the panoramic views. The Good Life demands precious mementos, so you return to the quest. No need to decide, take them all…jewels, art, gourmet foods, handmade accessories. Note to self: Cannery Row is the Good Life. Click Here to view a photo gallery exploring the rich heritage of Cannery Row. For information on leasing, contact: Cannery Row Company
555 Abrego
Monterey, CA 93940
Phone: 831-649-6690

Discover the special charms of Carmel on a 2-hour guided walking tour through secret pathways, hidden courtyards, award-winning gardens, and by enchanting fairytale cottages...the homes, haunts, and history of famous artists, writers, and movie stars. Learn about the spirit, characters, and customs that make Carmel unique.
Tours are given Tuesdays thru Fridays at 10am, and Saturdays at 10am and 2pm. The cost is $25 per person. (Private group tours are available upon request.) Tours meet in the outdoor courtyard of the Pine Inn on Lincoln St. at Ocean Ave. Reservations recommended.

Featured in Home & Garden TV, USA Today, Sunset Magazine, AAA Tourbook, Bay Area Backroads on NBC-TV, Los Angeles Times, Movieline Magazine, Dog Fancy Magazine, Allen Smith Gardens. Featuring The original fairytale cottages and home of Carmel’s
“Builder of Dreams,” Hugh Comstock. Homes and haunts of bohemian artists and writers. Edward Weston's photo studio and the photographic legacy of Carmel. 1914 Golf House - historic clubhouse of the Carmel golf course. Architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright, Charles S. Greene,
Julia Morgan and Bernard Maybeck. Feminist Mary Austin’s home and treehouse site. Why Clint named his pub the “Hog’s Breath Inn.” Doris Day’s dog digs and special K-9 tax forms. Plein-Aire painters and local artists. Poet Robinson Jeffers’ log cabin. The oldest art gallery in Carmel. Famous movie locations. Special off-beat places and unique spots and more!

Built to serve as a public school and town meeting hall, Colton Hall was named for Reverend Walter Colton who was appointed to serve as Alcalde or Chief Magistrate of the Monterey district. It now offers visitors a re-creation of the meeting room where California's first Constitution was drafted in October 1849 and exhibits on early Monterey. Colton Hall is a landmark in the City of Monterey, once the capital of Alta California.

When Drew and Myra Goodman came to California’s Carmel Valley, they were drawn to the natural beauty and richness of the land. Even before they turned over their first shovels full of soil, they believed strongly in doing the right thing, which meant committing to farming this spectacular land organically, producing food they would want to eat themselves and would feel good about serving their families, friends, and neighbors. From that idea came Earthbound Farm. 

Over twenty years later, Earthbound Farm is the world’s largest grower of organic produce. The Goodmans continue to guide the company, and are committed to organic farming, which helps keep consumers and the environment healthy by avoiding the use of harmful chemicals. Organic farming focuses on building the fertility of the soil with natural materials, resulting in rich, vital field ecosystems that produce fruits and vegetables as pure and healthy as they were intended to be.

The Farm Stand in Carmel Valley, offers unique organic produce and flowers fresh from the fields.  Visit the Organic kitchen for delicious food, shop for organic groceries, or stop by for one of the many family events help throughout the year. We do our best to reduce our environmental impact. In 2008 alone, our organic farming on about 40,000 acres will: avoid use of over 367,000 pounds of toxic and persistent pesticides; avoid use of nearly 12.4 million pounds of synthetic fertilizers; conserved an estimated 2 million gallons of petroleum by avoiding the use of petroleum-based pesticides and fertilizers; and fight global warming by absorbing carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, at an estimated rate equivalent to taking more than 7,700 cars off the road. A catalyst for positive change Challenging the conventional is part of Earthbound Farm’s culture. To be a catalyst for positive change, we’ve challenged a lot of conventional thinking. From the beginning, we’ve worked to produce the healthiest food possible and have a positive effect on our environment; that’s meant fundamentally changing the way food is farmed. With the growth of our business, Earthbound Farm has shown that organic farming can, indeed, feed millions. We’ve also questioned conventional wisdom about farming with fossil fuels. Earthbound Farm now uses biodiesel in our farm equipment and new company vehicles, and most of our partner farmers are converting their farming equipment, too. Clean-burning biodiesel drastically reduces ozone-depleting carbon emissions and uses fewer non-renewable resources. (To learn more about the benefits of biodiesel, go to www.biodiesel.org.) And in the critical area of food safety, we’ve challenged ourselves to develop next-generation standards to ensure the safety of our produce. The time for change is now, and under the guidance of the nation’s top food safety specialists, we’ve made important progress. To read about Earthbound Farm’s unparalleled food safety program, visit our Quality and Food Safety page. In everything we do at Earthbound Farm — farming, energy efficiency, environmental protection, food safety, contributing to our communities — we’re serious about our role as a catalyst for positive change. We’re constantly striving to do more and do better, because what we do today leaves a legacy for the generations that follow.

Elkhorn Slough is one of California's largest wetlands and part of a National Estuarine Reserve located in central Monterey Bay, California, just a short trip from the Santa Cruz area and the Monterey Peninsula. The wildlife rich reserve winds inland seven miles and provides an important feeding and resting place for a fantastic variety of wildlife such as playful sea otters, curious harbor seals, and hundreds of species of waterfowl and migratory shorebirds. Each season is unique and you may be greeted in nature's dynamic playground by nesting birds, feeding sharks, giant slugs and endangered animals. Elkhorn Slough Safari is an exciting way to visit this natural, calm water habitat and will provide excellent opportunities to view and photograph wildlife close at hand. These two hour boat cruises include an in-depth look at various aspects of slough ecology, fascinating history, and birding in the company of a naturalist guide. You can relax and enjoy a roomy, stable ride and refreshments on our coast guard certified 27 foot pontoon boat, the Safari, departing from Moss Landing, California. The boat tour is ideal for couples, families, groups, business retreats, private photography shoots, weddings, and singles. There are special activities provided for children. Moss Landing is a short day trip from the San Jose/San Francisco Bay region. We also offer specialty cruises. Birding There is excellent year round birding while on Safari, and the bird checklist for Elkhorn Slough contains over 200 species of birds recorded. Shorebirding is particularly good from the vantage provided by the tour boat. Our tours are scheduled to take advantage of their feeding times. The general tour is appropriate for beginner and serious birders. Be sure to tell our birder Captain that you are interested in birds. Each season has something different to offer: Fall migration, winter visitors, spring migration, spring/summer nesting, and summer residents. There are a number of rare bird sightings during the Elkhorn Slough Safari tours which include golden eagle, red knot, black skimmer, least terns, phalaropes, tundra swans, Clark's grebe and many others. Otters Elkhorn Slough Safari offers unique and relatively close sea otter viewing. We observe sea otters playing, feeding, resting, caring for young and socializing. While you watch and enjoy these delightful creatures in their natural environment, the naturalist will share background information with you. This tour has been recommended to sea otter enthusiasts by "Friends of the Sea Otter." In addition to otters, a number of marine mammals frequent the slough. Harbor Seals have an active birthing rookery and resting haul outs here. Sea lions are sighted regularly. On at least two rare occasions gray whales have strayed into the slough channel. Captain & Crew Elkhorn Slough Safari is owned and operated by Captain Yohn Gideon, a Coast Guard licensed captain. The Captain is a local Elkhorn Slough naturalist, an avid birder, and amateur photographer. On taking the tours the Captain comments, "I'm always amazed at how each day and season holds a new surprise. There is such diversity, I look forward to each tour. I strive to show my guests as much wildlife as possible in a fun and relaxing atmosphere." Elkhorn Slough Safari is not only fun but informative as well. The on board naturalist will provide local stories, wildlife interpretation, answer your questions and share identification guides. Binoculars can be rented.